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Frank Smith (19 September 1936 – 30 June 2025), known professionally as Frank Barrie, was an English actor, director and writer. He made his acting debut in 1959 in a production of Henry IV, Part 2, at the York Theatre Royal. He was a successful actor throughout his career. In 2008 he starred in Lunch with Marlene, a tribute to Noël Coward and Marlene Dietrich, and in 2010 was cast as Edward Bishop in EastEnders.
In 1967 Barrie toured the United States and Europe with the Company, repeating his Mercutio and Lucio on Broadway, New York, and in many other major cities.
In 1969 he was invited by Laurence Olivier to join the National Theatre. An Interview with Frank Barrie by Abe J. Bassett Over the next four years he played many leading roles with Olivier's company, including Mirabell in The Way of the World opposite Geraldine McEwan. His performance as Wendoll in John Dexter production of A Woman Killed with Kindness opposite Joan Plowright drew favourable reviews. The Stage noted that "Frank Barrie is an excellent Wendoll", and that he gave a "characterisation of richness and power". He also appeared as Brachiano in The White Devil, Barelli in The Rules of the Game with Paul Scofield; Ganya in The Idiot with Derek Jacobi; Desmoulins in Danton's Death with Christopher Plummer; and Bassanio to Olivier's Shylock. Macready! Theatre programme 1982 He was the first member of the Bristol Old Vic to star at the Young Vic, where he won wide critical acclaim as Byron in The Naked Peacock. The production was described by critic Irving Wardle as having "a notably Byronic performance by Frank Barrie; a romantically virile figure whose wolfish mouth offers a constant threat of blisteringly destructive irony".
Later leading London appearances include A Midsummer Night's Dream at the Open Air Theatre, Regent's Park, where he played Oberon opposite Linda Thorson as Titania. His performance as Crichton in the 1977 staging of The Admirable Crichton at the Greenwich Theatre drew favourable comment, with the Daily Telegraph commenting that "Frank Barrie as Crichton gives every impression that beneath the stiff butler's uniform, there beats the heart of a true intelligent being". He also appeared as Arthur Kipps in The Woman in Black, which was staged at Fortune Theatre theatre; Lord Rosebery in Motherdear opposite Margaret Lockwood at The Ambassadors and Janacek at The Royal Festival Hall; He also played Braham in The Philanthropist at Wyndham's and Major Ross in The Crucifer of Blood at the Haymarket.
Barrie was the author of his one man show, Macready!, the story of the great Victorian actor William Macready, which came to the West End in 1981 after a triumphant run in New York and was filmed by the Bright Thoughts Company for Channel 4. For this performance he was nominated "best actor" in the London Critics Plays and Players Awards. Barrie performed Macready! worldwide, in a record breaking 65 countries, including Australia when in 1982 he represented Great Britain in the Commonwealth Games Arts Festival in Brisbane.
In 1991 he appeared at the Theatre Royal, Windsor in The Philanthropist. Theatricalia – The Philanthropist In 1995 he played the title role in a later production of Jeffrey Bernard Is Unwell, with The Stage commenting that "the central performance by Frank Barrie is finely placed and impeccably played".
In 2008, Barrie was cast as Noël Coward in the original London production of Lunch with Marlene, a play about the friendship between Coward and fellow acting legend Marlene Dietrich. The production received "rave reviews", with the casting of Barrie as Coward being described as "impeccable" by The Stage.
Barrie also had considerable experience as a director, including productions of Shylock, J. M. Barrie, and The Life and Loves of Edith Wharton, all of which toured internationally. His writing credits include Wellington, The Family at Ham, The Devil You Know, and The Other Woman, the last of which was broadcast by the BBC, starring Dame Thora Hird.
In May 2022 he appeared as Harry Flashman – celebrating the character's fictional bicentennial.
In 1983 Barrie played Eglamour in the BBC Television Shakespeare adaptation of The Two Gentlemen of Verona.
Barrie appeared in the BBC One soap opera EastEnders as Edward Bishop in 2010 and 2011, a local choir master who becomes Dot Cotton's (June Brown) gentleman friend.
Barrie died at his home on 30 June 2025, at the age of 88.
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